OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Saint Augustine, FL 32086

Saint Augustine: median income $76,512, home value $382,800, $225/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Weaverville, NC 28787 92%413$78,604$401,700$266 smaller
Rockport, TX 78382 92%959$75,135$270,900$253 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 92%1,049$75,237$463,300$284 pricier homes ($81K more)
Easton, MD 21601 91%687$83,680$376,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
Montrose, CO 81401 90%1,624$71,286$374,300$280 Very close on everything we compare
New Bern, NC 28562 89%439$75,012$277,800$183 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Alexandria, MN 56308 89%1,344$78,177$341,900$194 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Queensbury, NY 12804 88%1,024$89,127$311,400$248 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older homes
Berlin, MD 21811 88%685$90,082$388,900$265 Very close on everything we compare
Carlisle, PA 17015 87%751$86,981$297,500$189 cheaper homes ($85K less) · less walkable
Swansboro, NC 28584 86%416$87,414$339,200$221 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Fletcher, NC 28732 86%394$81,852$376,700$233 smaller · younger residents
Hendersonville, NC 28739 86%385$73,582$394,900$273 smaller
Hendersonville, NC 28791 86%388$78,827$370,700$236 smaller · older homes
Oshkosh, WI 54904 86%1,059$93,341$281,000$175 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 85%743$90,013$370,500$283 smaller · younger residents
Maryville, TN 37803 85%431$83,446$356,100$225 cheaper homes ($27K less) · less walkable
Sterling Heights, MI 48314 85%888$85,889$331,500$182 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Washington, MO 63090 85%817$85,025$273,600$189 cheaper homes ($109K less) · younger residents · older homes
Kerrville, TX 78028 85%1,066$66,991$323,200$210 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more renters
Mesa, AZ 85209 85%1,794$84,432$402,900$253 more apartments and townhomes
Mesa, AZ 85215 85%1,799$98,831$441,000$278 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Boulder City, NV 89005 85%1,980$74,375$435,600$289 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · older homes
Absecon, NJ 08205 84%772$93,370$292,400$208 cheaper homes ($90K less) · younger residents
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 84%302$70,739$267,700$189 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.